County give EFL chance to attacker who has banged in goals in lower leagues

NEWPORT County AFC have boosted their attacking options by signing promising forward Oliver Greaves on a two-year contract.

The 24-year-old has earned a Football League chance after scoring 24 goals for Derbyshire club Mickleover in the Southern League Northen Premier Division.

Greaves, who came through the ranks at Sheffield United, caught the eye of several clubs but has opted to head to Rodney Parade.

“There was quite a bit of interest from a number of professional clubs last season,” said Greaves, whose move to County has been in the pipeline for several months.

"As soon as I heard about the Newport interest, I couldn’t wait to get it over the line. I’m buzzing.

“Unfortunately, I had to drop out of the professional game, which was hard, but I’ve got the other side of non-league football under my belt now, including a spell in Spain, so I can’t wait to get going again.

“I’ve got a lot of strings to my bow, and hopefully every bit of experience I’ve gained I can carry into Newport.

“I’d say I’m an attack-minded player; I like to create chances and make thing happen. Scoring and assisting is what I base my game on.’"

Greaves had a spell on loan at Barrow in the National League when with the Blades before playing for Dover, Matlock, Gainsborough and Almunecar in Spain.

After playing in the East Midlands, the attacker is now aiming to shine in his first taste of the Football League.

He joins top scorer Will Evans, Luke Jephcott, Kiban Rai and Nathan Wood as a forward option for the Exiles, who are hunting a new head coach after the departure of Graham Coughlan.

He is the Exiles' fifth signing - with an emphasis on giving Football League opportunities to up-and-coming players.

Defenders Ciaran Brennan, Anthony Glennon and Joe Thomas plus midfielder Kai Whitmore have arrived on two-year contracts.